2026 Britax Poplar S Review: Is It Right for You?

Seat is Good for You If:

You have a small backseat.

When it comes to rear-facing convertible car seats, space can be a major concern. Whether you have a tall front seat occupant, a small backseat, or both, the Britax Poplar S' 6-position recline options can offer a space-saving profile for older kids! Like all rear-facing seats, the Poplar S' front-to-back footprint depends on the recline setting chosen by the adult installing the car seat. When this seat is installed on the most upright rear-facing recline setting, it is one of the most compact rear-facing convertibles on the market!

You need to fit 3 across.

One of the best specs of this seat is that it is only 17 inches wide. It’s a good option to consider if you need to fit three people or car seats in one row. The ClickTight panel makes it easy to get a snug installation as well, which is really helpful in a tight three-cross situation. Check out all our recommended seats for three-cross situations here.

You want a car seat that’s easy to install.

When it comes to easy, straightforward, wrestle-free car seat installation, ClickTight is about as good as it gets! Britax’s innovative ClickTight technology both tightens and locks the vehicle seatbelt for you. All you have to do is thread the vehicle seatbelt through the correct belt path, buckle it in, gently remove any obvious slack, and close the ClickTight panel. For caregivers who struggle to tighten seatbelts or lower anchor (also referred to as latch) straps when installing other car seats, the Britax Poplar S might just be the answer to your car seat woes.

When installing the Britax Poplar S car seat, note that the ClickTight panel is designed to be used with the vehicle seatbelt. Don’t even bother with a lower anchor installation; a seatbelt is the way to go for this seat!

You want a car seat with a seat belt lock-off.

The Britax Poplar S has a seat belt lock-off. So it can be a good option in vehicles older than 1996 that don’t have locking seat belts or need to be installed in international vehicles.

Quirks to be Aware of:

V-Shaped Tether

The top tether should always be used when a child is forward-facing. Britax’s top tethers are V-shaped instead of the typical top tether design. Generally, this kind of top tether will go around both sides of the vehicle’s headrest.

Infant Inserts

Both the Poplar and Poplar S have a lower infant insert that goes under the child’s bottom must be used until the child is 22 pounds, at which point it must be removed. The Poplar S includes an upper insert can be used by rear-facing children until 20 pounds.